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Jo is doing well...pray for mom and dad

6/5/2017

8 Comments

 
Hi everyone, Jo continues to rest and heal, each day he seems more aware of his surroundings.  It is clear he is still uncomfortable from the tracheostomy.  When he moves he often opens his mouth to cry but no sound comes out.  It is painful to watch.  Jo's vitals have been steady since Thursday's admittance in PICU.  The surgery provided another layer of relief for Jo as he no longer labors to breath and his snoring has lessened significantly.  He is off any sedative, uses no heavy pain drugs, and takes tylenol or ibuprofen when he is uncomfortable.  All around great news.

Jo's right eye continues to open to a small slit often.  He appears to be focusing on you in those brief moments, it lifts me up and crushes me in seconds.  When I look in his eye I see amazing strength, a new sense of hope, as well as a struggle, frustration, and pain.  I experience overwhelming joy followed quickly by a wave of despair.  I keep my faith and try to pray away the pain, I say the lord's prayer about 15 times a day.

Dad is struggling to keep it together.  The problem with Jo doing so well is the idle time I am left with.  No big decisions, no advocacy needed, nothing I need to do.  My thoughts consume me and I feel a dark wave overcome me.  I try focus on the positives; Jo's progress, his tenacious fighting, his amazing rebounds after each setback, or his  long periods of stability.  Instead every picture, video, or even the sound of his voice haunts me and brings me to tears.

You see Jo is much more than just a brother or son.    He is a great friend.  He is the light in our eyes.  He is pure joy.  He is compassion, caring, and loving in private and funny, witty, and playful in public.  He means so much to so many,  he is so special.  

I see him everywhere.  The empty headphones on the coach.  His scratched and dented cell phone on the shelf.  His beat up old  bike hanging in the garage.  His idle go pro camera on the desk.  His favorite Nikes laying in the hall.  These things he loved so much, when will he need them again?

I've spent long moments staring into his half open eye wondering "can he see me?"  I've never wanted anything more than Jo back.  I'd give anything.  I'd do anything.  I've never felt this much pain.  

There is so much more a could share, but it just hurts too much.  I am doing my best to keep my faith, I need the lord's strength so much right now.  I need Jo's smile, his laugh, and his touch so badly it causes physical pain.  Jo is doing great, the Lord is bringing him back to us, the pain in waiting is overwhelming.

Jojobinks, mommy and daddy are here and we miss you so much.  You are the missing link in our loving family, we need you back so badly.  Keep showing the same strength you've showed your entire life.  Let God's healing hands touch and heal you, come back to us Jojo, please come back soon.  We love you to the moon and back sweet angel, you've got this.

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8 Comments
Aunt Jody
6/5/2017 05:51:24 pm

The Lord is with Jojo and his strength and the compassion that you are giving to him everyday I know it's hard but we're all behind you feeling everything you're feeling and JoJo is coming back you just have to believe in the Lord our prayers are slowly being answered but they are being answered

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Denia
6/5/2017 07:26:47 pm

I would like to share a story about my friend Jenny. When we were 13 years old a man a crazy man hit her in the head with a large sanitation broom and cracked her skull. She was also in a coma and had surgery on her brain. She did wake up. Im not sure how long it was but she did wake up. From what I remember she had to learn how to do many things over. Her speech her motor skills and her memory. But she did it. We all where by her side and prayed for her to get better and she did. Today Jenny has survived not only that accident but a mortor cycle one too that almost took her life. She is also HIV positive for 20 years and has survived that too. Now she is 57 and taking care of her elderly mom. Jenny was always known and loved by all her friends. She comes from a very large family. She always accepted everything and never had a bad word to say at least I don't remember she did. Now this happened over 40 years ago and the technology then and now has changed so much. She survived because of her strength. Everything you say about Jo reminds me of strength. I can't even imagine the hurt you and Alex feel. I know we never met but you are my family and I love you all and you are in my thoughts everyday. Even before this accident Alex and I connected again and I'm so happy about that. This is going to take a long time but his strength will make him survive. I believe it. Not to mention but he comes from strength. My father his great uncle was the strongest man. He was shot 11 times in ww2 and survived. I am praying to him to give Jo his strength. I can feel he can hear me and it's a long journey but I feel confident he will climb that mountain. All my love and prayers. Your cousin. Denia

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Michelle carioto
6/6/2017 05:50:56 am

Song for you

https://www.google.com/search?q=mercyme+even+if&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

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Leslie Viera
6/5/2017 06:58:14 pm

We are praying for you daily, your strength has been incredible, keep it up. The Lord is with each and every moment.

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Joyce Barci
6/5/2017 07:05:16 pm

Tonite I pray for Jo's Dad and Mom. I can only imagine the pain you are going through. I know it must be unbearable 💔I truly believe Jo is healing and coming back to you. I pray for the moments ahead when he will explain to you what he heard, what he saw and what he felt. He is so loved I know he will be back soon. I never thought my niece would come back to us, but she did. Are sleeping beauty came back and learned how to walk and talk all over again. Today she has a family of her own. Every once in awhile I will still kiss her eyelashes like I did when she was in that long coma and thank her for coming back to us🙏

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Michelle Carioto
6/5/2017 09:16:13 pm

Hang in there - you and Alex can do this together! I know it must seem unbearable at times, being a mom myself I read your post and can feel your pain!

Love the picture, Joseph looks so much like you!

God please comfort Jim & Alex, give them strength and perseverance and the grace to get through this trial together. Draw them closer to one another and to you. Hold them in your loving arms and give them back their son I pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- Amen

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The Rodgers
6/6/2017 04:41:26 am

This absolutely breaks my heart. I admire your strength through all of this. Keep your faith strong and know that everything is Gods timing. I look forward to Jo reading this so he'll know how incredibly special he truly is. We love you guys and are praying for you. Xoxo

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Kathy Dowell
6/6/2017 11:03:55 am

Hello Jim and Alex. You don't know me, but I have begun to get to know you both and Jo through this site. Where would any of us be without the grace and strength of our Lord. This time is but a season and so extremely hard. One day you will be able to sing, "it is well with my soul". Until then, let the perfect peace and grace of the Lord be with you today and everyday as you look at Jo's face. Be comforted in the plan and pace of God's healing. I am praying for you all.

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